Minor injury units (MIUs)

Same day urgent care services are very busy but we are doing our very best to ensure that services are there when you need them. We have consolidated core opening times at some of our minor injuries units. At times there may be some changes to opening hours and these will be posted below.

Burnham-on-Sea MIU – will be closed on Wednesday 27 September 2023, resuming normal hours from tomorrow.

Shepton Mallet MIU – will be closed on Wednesday 27 September 2023, resuming normal hours from tomorrow.

Our minor injury units in Somerset

If you have a non-life threatening injury or illness and need local care with short waiting times, we can help you at your nearest minor injury unit (MIU).

We have MIUs in community hospitals based at Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Chard, Bridgwater, Minehead and Burnham-on-Sea. They are all run by emergency nurse practitioners, who are nurses with specialised training and skills in emergency and urgent care. They are supported by staff nurses and healthcare assistants.

Our MIUs provide urgent care to patients closer to where they live. They keep our emergency departments free to manage critically ill patients and those with life-threatening major injuries.

Our team of emergency nurse practitioners diagnose and treat a wide range of non-life threatening minor illnesses and injuries. Common examples include:

  • Chest infections
  • Throat infections
  • Eye infections
  • Urinary infections
  • Emergency contraception
  • Sprains and strains
  • Broken bones
  • Cuts and wounds
  • Bites
  • Minor head injuries.

If you’re not sure which service you need please use the 24/7 free NHS 111 telephone health advice line. For life-threatening emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, unconsciousness and breathing problems call 999.

How you can you access these services

No appointment is needed. Just turn up during opening hours and you will be seen.

There is free car parking at all community hospital locations. You do not need to be a Somerset resident to use our MIUs.

Information about our MIUs at our community hospitals in Somerset

Bridgwater – Bridgwater Community Hospital, 01278 436 555
Open seven days a week 8am to 9pm (last patient admitted at 8.30pm).

X-ray is available at Bridgwater MIU during these times:

8:30am – 5pm Monday- Friday

9am – 5pm weekends.

Get directions

Burnham-on-Sea – Burnham-on-Sea War Memorial Hospital, 01278 773103

Please note on Thursday 13 October it was announced that the opening hours at the units in Burnham-on-Sea, Chard and Shepton Mallet would be temporarily reduced to ensure that a safe and consistent service could be maintained across the county.

Following an interim review in April 2023, a decision was made extend the current restrictions in opening hours for a further period of around six months. This is due to ongoing recruitment shortages and sustained workforce challenges.

Burnham-on-Sea will continue to be open Monday to Friday between 10am to 6pm (no weekend service).

Get directions

Chard – Chard Community Hospital, 01460 238220

Open: Seven days a week 8am to 9pm (last patient admitted at 8.30pm).

X-Ray facilities are not available at Chard Hospital’s MIU until October – date TBC. More information here.

Get directions

Frome – Frome Community Hospital, 01373 454770
Open: Seven days a week 8am to 9pm (last patient admitted at 8.30pm).

X-ray is available at Frome MIU during these times:

9am to 4pm Monday to Friday

Get directions

Glastonbury – West Mendip Community Hospital, 01458 836454
Open seven days a week 8am to 9pm (last patient admitted at 8.30pm).

X-ray is available at West Mendip MIU during these times:

9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Get directions

Minehead – Minehead Community Hospital, 01643 701715 (last patient admitted at 8.30pm).

Open seven days a week 8am to 9pm.

X-ray is available at Minehead MIU during these times:

9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Get directions

Shepton Mallet – Shepton Mallet Community Hospital, 01749 342931

Please note on Thursday 13 October it was announced that the opening hours at the units in Burnham-on-Sea, Chard and Shepton Mallet would be temporarily reduced to ensure that a safe and consistent service could be maintained across the county.

Following an interim review in April 2023, a decision was made extend the current restrictions in opening hours for a further period of around six months. This is due to ongoing recruitment shortages and sustained workforce challenges.

Shepton Mallet will continue to open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8am to 4pm with the last patient to be booked in at 2:30pm (closing on Tuesday, Thursday and at the weekend)

Get directions

X-ray

If your assessment requires an X-ray this will usually be done on the same day. If you arrive when the X-ray services are closed, you will be assessed and treated and then asked to return the following day for X-ray (unless time critical and you will be referred to the closest district general hospital).

Waiting times

Usually you will wait on average 40 minutes. At peak time you can wait up to two hours. On arrival, the receptionist will take your details and you will be seen as quickly as possible. Priority is based on how serious your injury is so other patients with more serious or time critical injuries may be seen more quickly.

More information about our community hospitals

For more information about our community hospitals, including ward information and contact information, please visit our Community Hospitals page.